Considering that most volcanoes have some sort of activity occurring all the time. Unless they're completely dormant, it's strange to see that theirs hasn't received more attention.

Large lava flows don't even need to happen. Many grow in size without even a flame to show for it. Composite volcanoes like Mt Saint Helens are made with 'sticky' lava and magma. Thus build up higher more quickly than a shield volcano like Hawaii, which has 'runny' lava and magma (mostly, but I won't go into details) and build outwards faster instead of upwards.

The composite volcanoes are also the ones responsible for most the impressive eruptions because they are prone to being blocked up by the vary same material that allows them to grow so high.

Umm, that turned out wordier than I intended. Hope you don't mind.